Age: 21
Year: Senior
Major: Planning, public policy and management. Minor in biology

Mika is a strong academic leader, FIG assistant, RA and Rhodes Scholarship finalist who has been chosen for many awards and scholarships.

Dream job

I was recently very inspired after talking to the program manager for the Sustainability in Prisons Project in Washington. I would love to do similar work: pioneering programs in prisons that support sustainability, food production, and biodiversity conservation.

Why are you at the UO?

What stood out to me the most when I visited as a senior in high school was getting the impression that the professors and staff genuinely invest in their students. This has been reinforced time and time again over the last four years.

How do you want to change the world?

I see myself changing the world by showing compassion and curiosity for the people around me. As the parable goes, each starfish matters.

What has been the best part of your college experience?

There are too many experiences to name. I am a part of several amazing communities, academic and not, that inspire and challenge me. I have had the opportunity to study humanitarian aid and peacebuilding for a week at Oxford. I presented a paper on the divided education system in Northern Ireland at a UNESCO sponsored conference in Bangkok. I’ve learned so much about the gray area in complex issues and I’ve learned a lot about myself. That’s really valuable to me.

What are you proud to have been a part of at UO?

I am proud to be a leader in the Carnegie Global Oregon academic community on campus. I am proud to be involved with the Inside Out Prison Exchange Program; I am currently the TA for a class on “Geographies of Inequality” at the Oregon State Penitentiary. I am also proud to have helped found the UO chapter of Beyond War. It’s gaining momentum as an organization that engages people in important discussions about both personal identity and international issues.

What are some of your goals after you earn your degree?

I want to push myself to be more ambitious than my instinct would drive me to be. I’ve found that almost everything I have accomplished has been a result of just deciding to follow through. I continually surprise myself with what I am capable of.

What groups are you associated with on campus?

Robert D. Clark Honors college, Carnegie Global Oregon — Steering committee member , Beyond War — founder/president, Serbu — volunteer, Resident Assistant, Oregon Research Institute intern